Halifax County Schools aggressive against pandemic

HALIFAX — Halifax County Schools are taking a proactive stance to minimize the threat of H1N1 virus or swine flu.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Education, school Nurse Quinlan Morgan briefed board members on how her team plans to combat this pandemic in the schools, should it appear. “First of all we plan to be aggressive with educating students and parents,” she said.

Morgan explained H1N1 flu is a respiratory disease. There have been no confirmed cases in Halifax County yet. “There were a few suspected cases, but they were not H1N1,” she said.

Morgan said symptoms of H1N1 are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Those who are most at risk are those between ages of 6 months and 24 years, and those with chronic illnesses and diabetes. Many people who had this virus also reported diarrhea and vomiting. “It was considered a pandemic disease as of June,” she said.

Morgan said informational flyers have been generated in English and Spanish, and they are going out. An all out campaign to get students to cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze and to clean surfaces will be pushed in the classrooms. Students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to clean their hands thoroughly and frequently. “That’s probably the number one preventative,” she said.

Teachers are instructed to look for sick students and to send them home. Parents are required to keep sick students out of school throughout the sickness. Teachers are to make arrangements to accommodate make-up work. “We’ve told teachers to be compassionate and expect a seven-day absence,” she said.

Morgan also said a 6-foot rule will be implemented with sick students. “It’s not a quarantine, but sick students will be required to stay distanced from healthy students,” said Morgan.

Finally, the team will track students and teachers who are sent home. She said the schools are working in collaboration with the health department.

Morgan encouraged everyone to remember to get a flu shot. “Middle school students need their DTP shot. “When you go to get that, get the flu shot at the same time. We do not give flu shots at school. We have people come in all the time and say, ‘I want to get my flu shot.’ We do not give flu shots,” she reiterated.

A flu mist will be given to second graders with parents permission, but Morgan wanted everyone to know the schools are not giving out flu vaccinations. People must go to the health department or their primary care physician.